I am currently preparing an application for naturalisation as a British citizen. I need a clarification regarding definition of “Engineer with professional qualifications”.

Could someone clarify what actually “Engineer (with professional qualifications)”mean?

For example, could someone who is NOT a Chartered Engineer but who has an engineering degree, works as a senior building services engineer and a member of a professional body such as Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers qualify as a second referee?

I know that if the referee is a Chartered Engineer (professional) he/she will qualify and this is the safest option.

At the moment I am struggling to find such a person therefore I am trying to understand if having a membership of a professional body would be sufficient.

Not every student is a member of a professional body. You have to have certain academic qualifications (e.g BEng, MSc) or work experience before you can become a member of a professional body. Your academic qualifications/work experience is assessed by the professional body and if they are acceptable you can become a member.

You can be a very experienced professional with right academic qualifications and a professional body membership but not be a Chartered. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you professional experience is not sufficient. It could just mean that you have not formally tick all the right boxes (e.g. didn’t right a final report or attended an interview).

Unfortunately, at the moment, I cannot get a simple and definitive answer. The list of acceptable professional persons indicates that a referee should be an Engineer (with professional qualifications) which could mean to have Chartership status. The application form Section 5 states that the referee can be a member of professional body which could mean that Charteship status is not necessary.

I have been told by one council checking service that I shouldn’t worry about such detail as it not that important. However, I just want to be absolutely clear about the requirements before I submit my application.